Name________________________________________________
Poetry Out Loud: The TONE Map
Most poems tell a “narrative of emotions;” they move through a series of moods
and tones of voice, arranged in particular order to tell a particular emotional story.
There is usually an emotional drama playing out from the beginning of the poem,
through the middle, and into the end, as the poem tries to arrive at some
emotional resolution.
Whether or not we understand what everything in a poem means, we can
experience, enjoy and convey to others the poem’s emotional drama. We do this
by recognizing the changing tones of voice.
TONE: Style or manner of expression in speaking or writing; accent or inflection
reflective of mood or emotion.
1. Listen to Kay Ryan’s recitation of “Jenny Kissed Me.” Listen for the tonal turning
points in Ryan’s recitation. I will play the poem several times. You must jot down
notes about where in the poem—at what words or phrases—you hear poem shift
in mood, or the performer’s shift in tone of voice.
2. Using your Tone List, brainstorm names for each tone you have heard. Feel free
to combine terms whenever you need to: for example, “bantering disbelief” is
different from “stunned disbelief,” and both are different from “horrified disbelief.”
“Jenny Kissed Me”
By: Leigh Hunt
Jenny kissed me when we met,
Jumping from the chair she sat in;
Time, you thief, who love to get
Sweets into your list, put that in:
Say I’m weary, say I’m sad,
Say that health and wealth have missed me,
Say I’m growing old, but add
Jenny kissed me.
“Jenny Kissed Me” Tone Map
Section
Jenny kissed me when we met
Jumping from the chair she sat in
Time, you thief
Who love to get
Sweets on your list
Put that in!
Say I’m weary
Say I’m sad
Say that health and wealth have missed me
Say I’m growing old
But add,
Jenny kissed me.
Tone
Fond reminiscence
Amused, affectionate
Still amused (now by Time, rather than by
Jenny), but growing a little wary, a little
scornful.
Disdainful
Shrugging
Candid, a little sad
Lightly or playfully regretful
Real regret
Rallying, insistent
Marveling, contented
1. Are these the tones you heard in Kay Ryan’s reading?
2. If not, how would you describe what you heard?
3. Do you think the parts of the poem should be read in a tone that is different from
both Ryan’s recitation and the tone map?
4. What tone seems better in what section, and why?
For Homework:
Create a Tone Map for your chosen poem. Due Friday 1/11/13.